Germany is building a new arsenal of long-range weapons that is expected to significantly expand the Bundeswehr's capabilities and strengthen deterrence against Russia. Internal documents from the German Defense Ministry, obtained by Politico, put the expected cost at nearly €12bn ($14bn).
The new weapons would give the German armed forces the ability to strike targets hundreds, even thousands, of kilometers away.
Internal documents describe the program as one of the top priorities for both Germany and NATO, with the aim of enabling the Bundeswehr to strike "far into the rear area of an adversary" while retaining the ability to respond with conventional weapons, short of crossing the nuclear threshold.
The program has four parts. Berlin plans to deploy the first weapons as early as next year, while the most advanced systems, developed jointly with the United Kingdom, are expected to achieve initial operational capability in the mid-2030s.
Cheap Missiles, Bought in Bulk
Germany is particularly keen to acquire a new, low-cost cruise missile, which it hopes to bring into service by 2027. Berlin wants a system that can be procured and manufactured in large numbers and fielded quickly.
According to the documents, the ministry is weighing three options: the Anthem missile from the US-Israeli company Covenant Industries, the BARS from an unnamed Ukrainian firm, and the Flamingo, made by the Ukrainian company Fire Point.
Germany is already negotiating contracts with two of the suppliers, with the aim of obtaining missiles for qualification tests next year. Berlin is also preparing framework agreements that would later allow for mass production.
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The ministry describes this type of weapon as cost-effective and, above all, suitable for mass production, intended to supplement the significantly more expensive systems already in Germany's arsenal.
Germany is also drawing on lessons from the war in Ukraine, where Kyiv has increasingly succeeded in using drones and missiles to strike Russian military infrastructure and refineries. The German defense ministry said in June that the ability to hit critical targets deep behind enemy lines has become an essential component of credible deterrence.
According to the ministry, cheaper systems carry high operational value, partly because they can overwhelm enemy air defenses through mass attacks.
Buying Time with American Tomahawks
The second part of the German plan centers on American Tomahawk missiles. In early July, Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the Bundestag that Germany had reached an agreement with the US government, struck on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, on their purchase and deployment on German territory.
"This will close an important strategic gap in our defense", Merz said, adding that Germany would simultaneously develop its own European systems.
According to internal documents, Berlin aims to achieve initial operational capability for the US-made Typhon launch systems armed with Tomahawks by the end of the decade, giving Germany a proven long-range weapon while European alternatives are still in development.
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Building the Most Advanced Weapons with Britain
Germany and the UK are jointly preparing the final two phases of the program: a new high-performance cruise missile and a hypersonic glide weapon. Both projects build on the Trinity House agreement, signed by Berlin and London in October 2024.
Both governments have already stated publicly that the new long-range weapons should be capable of striking targets more than 2,000 km away, with initial operational capability targeted for the middle of the next decade.
These two projects account for the largest share of the planned spending. One internal document estimates nearly €9bn ($10.5bn) for their development and procurement, plus a further €182m ($213m) for maintenance.
An additional €1.8bn ($2.1bn) is earmarked for the development and procurement of cruise missiles, with €97m ($113m) set aside for their upkeep. Altogether, these items total approximately €11bn ($12.9bn). The ministry's internal documents, however, put the total expected financial need at "almost €12 billion" ($14bn).
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The amount has not yet been approved. The ministry calculated the costs and submitted them as part of the government's budget planning. The defense ministry declined to comment to Politico on the specific figures or individual programs, noting that such measures generally require Bundestag approval.
The expansion of the arsenal comes as German military officials warn that Russia could be capable of attacking NATO territory by the end of the decade. Berlin wants to ensure that, should deterrence fail, Russian military infrastructure is not protected simply by its distance from the front lines.
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